Evaluation of Two-Dimensional Codes for Digital Information Security in Physical Documents

Nowadays, paper documents are still frequently used and exchanged in our daily life. To safely manage confidential paper information such as medical and financial records has increasingly become a challenge. If a patient\u27s medical diagnosis get stolen or dumped without shredding, his or her private information would be leaked. Some companies and organizations do not pay enough attention to the problem, letting their customers suffer the loss. In the thesis, I designed a hybrid system to solve this problem effectively and economically. This hybrid system integrates physical document properties with digital security technology, which brings in a revolutionary idea for processing sensitive paper information in modern world. Based on that, I focus on different QR code sizes and versions, compare their attributes and relations, and find the best QR code size and version according to data amount in a given area. Finally I implement them in CryptoPaper word plugin, using several test cases to test the functionality of it

Secure digital documents using Steganography and QR Code

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University LondonWith the increasing use of the Internet several problems have arisen regarding the processing of electronic documents. These include content filtering, content retrieval/search. Moreover, document security has taken a centre stage including copyright protection, broadcast monitoring etc. There is an acute need of an effective tool which can find the identity, location and the time when the document was created so that it can be determined whether or not the contents of the document were tampered with after creation. Owing the sensitivity of the large amounts of data which is processed on a daily basis, verifying the authenticity and integrity of a document is more important now than it ever was. Unsurprisingly document authenticity verification has become the centre of attention in the world of research. Consequently, this research is concerned with creating a tool which deals with the above problem. This research proposes the use of a Quick Response Code as a message carrier for Text Key-print. The Text Key-print is a novel method which employs the basic element of the language (i.e. Characters of the alphabet) in order to achieve authenticity of electronic documents through the transformation of its physical structure into a logical structured relationship. The resultant dimensional matrix is then converted into a binary stream and encapsulated with a serial number or URL inside a Quick response Code (QR code) to form a digital fingerprint mark. For hiding a QR code, two image steganography techniques were developed based upon the spatial and the transform domains. In the spatial domain, three methods were proposed and implemented based on the least significant bit insertion technique and the use of pseudorandom number generator to scatter the message into a set of arbitrary pixels. These methods utilise the three colour channels in the images based on the RGB model based in order to embed one, two or three bits per the eight bit channel which results in three different hiding capacities. The second technique is an adaptive approach in transforming domain where a threshold value is calculated under a predefined location for embedding in order to identify the embedding strength of the embedding technique. The quality of the generated stego images was evaluated using both objective (PSNR) and Subjective (DSCQS) methods to ensure the reliability of our proposed methods. The experimental results revealed that PSNR is not a strong indicator of the perceived stego image quality, but not a bad interpreter also of the actual quality of stego images. Since the visual difference between the cover and the stego image must be absolutely imperceptible to the human visual system, it was logically convenient to ask human observers with different qualifications and experience in the field of image processing to evaluate the perceived quality of the cover and the stego image. Thus, the subjective responses were analysed using statistical measurements to describe the distribution of the scores given by the assessors. Thus, the proposed scheme presents an alternative approach to protect digital documents rather than the traditional techniques of digital signature and watermarking

Implementing QR Code Technology in Medical Device Pacakage

The medical device industry strives to improve the delivery of key device information through the package to patients, doctors and end users. To achieve this goal Indications For Use (IFU) and user manuals have been major tools and are necessary components required in Medical Device Package according to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards. Historically there have been challenges caused by packaging information materials aspects such as manufacturing, transportation and translation. The need for extensive packaging and labelling has ultimately contributed to increased cost of manufacturing for devices. It is also important to know what information a customer needs and recognize that the safety of the consumer is of the utmost importance. The development and implementation of new technologies and procedures in a medical device industry may be complicated and slow but it is a necessity to improve safety and provide maximum comfort to the end user. Barcodes and Two Dimensional code have been used in the medical device industry for tracking purposes; however, the focus of this thesis was using QR codes (two-Dimensional barcode) in medical device package without IFU, user guides and manuals to enhance patient safety, reduce cost and enhance the breadth of information available to the ultimate users. Access to the information was achieved by just taking a picture or scanning the QR code which was printed on a medical device package. This thesis also assesses the feasibility of implementing the QR code technology on medical device package and a case study is conducted that elaborates on the cost analysis

Bar code standardization by creating new symbology

Ovaj članak predlaže novu tipizaciju bar koda koja pojednostavljuje korištenje bilo kojeg dvodimenzionalnog matričnog bar koda na tržištu iz perspektive korisnika, istovremeno poštujući pravila svakog od njih. Predlaganjem nove tipizacije postojeći funkcijski uzorci su prebačeni u digitalni prostor i dodatni su dijelovi ugrađeni. Dodavanjem dijela koji se zove obrub (the rim), bilo koji 2D matrični bar kod može imati iste funkcijske uzorke i biti prepoznatljiv korisniku, što omogućuje standardizaciju bar koda. Prateći korake u ovom članku, za svaki 2D matrični bar kod, obrub se može precizno izračunati. Nova tipizacija također može imati dva različita bar koda u isto vrijeme implementiranjem maski koje mogu transformirati bitove kako bi se formirao željeni grafiči uzorak. Ovim se istraživanjem pridonosi cijelokupnoj standardizaciji 2D matričnih bar kodova što će omogućiti korisnicima identificiranje bilo kojeg tipa 2D matričnog bar koda na isti način kao i druge 2D matrične bar kod tipizacije. Ovom metodom moguće je stvoriti jednostavnije bar kodove za korisnika.This paper proposes a new symbology which eases the use of any two-dimensional matrix bar code on the market from a user perspective, respecting the rules of each 2D matrix bar code. By proposing a new symbology, the exisiting function patterns are transfered into a digital space and additional parts are added. By adding a part called the rim, any 2D matrix bar code can have the same function patterns and can be recognizable to the user, which enables the bar code standardization. For each 2D matrix bar code the rim can be precisely calculated. It can also carry two different 2D bar codes by implementing masks which can rearrange bits to form the desired graphic pattern. This research will contribute overall 2D matrix bar code standardization which will enable users to identify 2D matrix bar codes in the same way as other 2D matrix bar code symbologies. With this method a more user friendly bar code can be achieved

2D-barcode for mobile devices

2D-barcodes were designed to carry significantly more data than its 1D counterpart. These codes are often used in industrial information tagging applications where high data capacity, mobility, and data robustness are required. Wireless mobile devices such as camera phones and Portable Digital Assistants (PDAs) have evolved from just a mobile voice communication device to what is now a mobile multimedia computing platform. Recent integration of these two mobile technologies has sparked some interesting applications where 2D-barcodes work as visual tags and/or information source and camera phones performs image processing tasks on the device itself. One of such applications is hyperlink establishment. The 2D symbol captured by a camera phone is decoded by the software installed in the phone. Then the web site indicated by the data encoded in a symbol is automatically accessed and shown in the display of the camera phone. Nonetheless, this new mobile applications area is still at its infancy. Each proposed mobile 2D-barcode application has its own choice of code, but no standard exists nor is there any study done on what are the criteria for setting a standard 2D-barcode for mobile phones. This study intends to address this void. The first phase of the study is qualitative examination. In order to select a best standard 2D-barcode, firstly, features desirable for a standard 2D-barcode that is optimized for the mobile phone platform are identified. The second step is to establish the criteria based on the features identified. These features are based on the operating limitations and attributes of camera phones in general use today. All published and accessible 2D-barcodes are thoroughly examined in terms of criteria set for the selection of a best 2D-barcode for camera phone applications. In the second phase, the 2D-barcodes that have higher potential to be chosen as a standard code are experimentally examined against the three criteria: light condition, distance, whether or not a 2D-barcode supports VGA resolution. Each sample 2D-barcode is captured by a camera phone with VGA resolution and the outcome is tested using an image analysis tool written in the scientific language called MATLAB. The outcome of this study is the selection of the most suitable 2D-barcode for applications where mobile devices such as camera phones are utilized

The use of and-coordination in terms of its syntactic (a)symmetry in argumentative essays : a corpus-based study of three university learner groups in MICUSP and NUCLE.

Studies found EL learners overuse and as an additive connector at the sentence-initial position (Bolton, Hung, & Nelson, 2002), and they underuse and as a coordinator (Leung, 2005). Generally, the use of the and-coordinator has often been overlooked in corpus research and in English teaching because of its seemingly simplicity. To test previous findings about the and-coordinator and to examine the influence of English proficiency on the use of and in academic writing, three learner corpora--MICUSP-NNS (advanced level), MICUSP-NS (advanced level), and NUCLE-NNS (upper-intermediate) were compared, with regard to the use of (a)symmetric structures of the and-coordination. Each corpus contains 31 argumentative essays written by 31 university students

Simple identification tools in FishBase

Simple identification tools for fish species were included in the FishBase information system from its inception. Early tools made use of the relational model and characters like fin ray meristics. Soon pictures and drawings were added as a further help, similar to a field guide. Later came the computerization of existing dichotomous keys, again in combination with pictures and other information, and the ability to restrict possible species by country, area, or taxonomic group. Today, www.FishBase.org offers four different ways to identify species. This paper describes these tools with their advantages and disadvantages, and suggests various options for further development. It explores the possibility of a holistic and integrated computeraided strategy

A Semantic Information Management Approach for Improving Bridge Maintenance based on Advanced Constraint Management

Bridge rehabilitation projects are important for transportation infrastructures. This research proposes a novel information management approach based on state-of-the-art deep learning models and ontologies. The approach can automatically extract, integrate, complete, and search for project knowledge buried in unstructured text documents. The approach on the one hand facilitates implementation of modern management approaches, i.e., advanced working packaging to delivery success bridge rehabilitation projects, on the other hand improves information management practices in the construction industry